Kay K Crabaugh

Kay Katherine (Jones) Crabaugh, 92, of Shawnee Kansas, died peacefully on July 24, 2026. Kay will be remembered by her family and friends as a kind and interested social lady who gathered lifelong friends and their families into her family. Nothing delighted Kay more than hearing people’s stories and life histories. As a talented amateur writer, Kay turned many of these conversations into interesting stories handwritten in her many spiral notebooks.

Kay was born in Kansas City, Kansas in January 1934 to Omer C. Jones and Helen F. (O’Dell) Jones. Kay worked for Intercollegiate Press (Herff Jones) for 34 years, working on thousands of school yearbooks as a graphic designer. Retiring in 2003, Kay spent her final decades enjoying time with her husband, family, and friends.

Kay was a proud Argentine High School graduate Class of 1952. She met Kenny on the school steps one day when she was loaded down with books. He didn’t offer to help, but he did wink at her! Thus began a love that never died.

Kay was a devoted Methodist Church member starting in high school. She joined the Methodist Church because the Baptists didn’t have youth parties and the Methodists did. She joined Central Methodist Church in 1950 and was married there on New Year’s Eve 1952. She transferred her membership to Bristol Hill United Methodist Church in 1969 where she remained a steadfast member until her death.

Kay loved working with kids, all kids, anyone’s kids! When Kay and Ken were 23 and 24, they started sponsoring the youth group at Central Methodist Church in Armourdale. Kay was a Girl Scout leader from 1961-1972. She and her new best friend/co-leader, Shirley Fox, started with a troop of Brownies and keelhauled them through to First Class Girl Scouts. Kay always said being a GS leader was the best fun she ever had. She loved her Brownies! Kay decided that she needed to learn to swim so she could keep up with her two toddlers. She began taking beginners lessons with two of her best friends at the Y in 1958. All three enjoyed the lessons so much, they continued taking advanced lessons until all became Life Saving and Swim Instructors. Kay would continue to teach swimming every year until 1972 at the Y or at Highland Crest Swim Club.

Kay met and kept many friends starting day one in grade school. Many of her best friends have died, and she missed the fun they had growing up in Armoudale, Argentine, Highland Crest in KCK, and Shawnee. She attracted and kept friends from her neighborhoods, work, church, and anywhere she was. Once you were her friend, it was a lifetime commitment.

Kay was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years Kenneth G. Crabaugh, her parents Omer C. Jones and Helen F. (O’Dell) Jones, and her stillborn sister Karen Jones. Kay is survived by her son Steve (Sandy) Crabaugh, her daughter Ronda Crabaugh, her beloved granddaughters Katy (Neil) Talbott and Andrea (Drew) Bietau, her great grandsons Ben and Luke Talbott, and Gordy Bietau and a soon to be born new Baby Bietau. Kay is also survived by her brother-in-law, Marv Crabaugh, her sister-in-law Phyllis Sell, and her nephew Dean Crabaugh. Throughout her life, Kay always had at least one dog and/or cat. She is survived by her cherished 14 year old cat, Mandy, who now lives with Ronda.

Services will be held at Amos Family Funeral Home, 10901 Johnson Drive, Shawnee Kansas on Saturday, August 8. Visitation starts at 2 pm and the memorial service at 3 pm.

In lieu of flowers, Kay requested that you donate to Mandy’s origin home: Great Plains SPCA, 5424 Antioch Dr, Merriam KS 66202. Taking care of children and animals were Kay’s favorite causes. It would make her so happy for puppies and kittens to be protected after her death.